About

AscendEX, formerly known as BitMax, is a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2018 by a team of Wall Street quantitative trading veterans. The platform offers spot trading, margin trading with up to 25x leverage, and futures trading. AscendEX is known for its DeFi-focused approach, featuring staking for over 60 assets and early listing of DeFi tokens. The exchange supports over 500 trading pairs and serves users worldwide with competitive fees. AscendEX also provides institutional services through its Prime Broker program and features auction-based token launches for emerging projects.

CEXes

AscendEX is a centralized exchange founded by Wall Street quant trading veterans, offering spot, margin, and futures trading with a DeFi-focused token selection.

Crypto Staking

AscendEX provides staking services for over 60 proof-of-stake assets, allowing users to earn rewards on DeFi and blockchain tokens directly through the exchange.

3.4 1 vote

AI Reviews

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3.4 /5
AscendEX (formerly BitMax) is a centralized exchange founded in 2018 by a team with Wall Street quantitative trading backgrounds. The platform offers spot, margin, and futures trading with a reasonably diverse selection of altcoins, often listing emerging DeFi and Web3 tokens earlier than larger competitors. This early-listing strategy appeals to traders seeking alpha but carries higher risk exposure to low-liquidity assets. AscendEX's staking service supports a solid range of proof-of-stake assets, offering competitive yields with relatively straightforward delegation processes. However, the platform suffered a significant security breach in December 2021, resulting in approximately $77 million in losses across multiple chains, which remains a notable concern regarding its security infrastructure. Trading volume and liquidity trail major exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, and OKX significantly, and regulatory transparency is limited compared to top-tier competitors. The user interface is functional but not as polished as industry leaders. AscendEX occupies a niche for altcoin-focused traders willing to accept moderate counterparty risk, but its security track record and smaller market presence warrant caution.

Category Ratings

CEXes
3.2
Crypto Staking
3.5
Feb 15, 2026
AI-Generated Review Generated via Anthropic API. This is an automated evaluation, not a consumer review. Learn more